Internal irrigator



H. HERTZBERG INTERNAL-IRRIGATOR Filed Nov.' 10, 1927 April 30, 1929.

I 7 n m l Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

HARRY HERTZBERG, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

INTERNAL IRRIGIATOR.

Application led November 10, 1927. Serial N'o. 232,244.

This invention relates to au injection apparatus for flushing out certain of the body cavities.

A particular aim of the invention is to provide an irrigator that can be used frequently without injuring the delicate membranes lining the colonic duct. The apparatus is designed to force water, or other fluid, under pressure into the colon to break up any hard concretions and dislodge all adhering matter, and includes a large passage controlled by a manual valve arrangement by which the fecal matter can be directed to a discharge vessel. A special feature of the device consists in the F arrangement whereby a person can use the irrigator on himself without assistance from another.

The invention also contemplates providing a structure that can be used for vaginal as Well as rectal irrigation, and hence is capable of dual utility.

While preferred embodiments have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings: Y

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the irrigator used to force fluid into a colon.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the discharge position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the irrigatorhea d used in the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a modification.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, the reference numeral 10 indicates the head of the irrigator. which is shown in Fig. 1 in injection position. The upper end of the head is formed on a gradual taper as at 11 to facilitate insertion of the head. while the lower end of the head carries an outstanding conical shoulder 12 which forms a seal against the outer margin of the body cavity. This seal is of particular importance in the ease of certain types of patients who are unable to seal the colon by normal control of the muscles involved. y

A central bore 13 is formed through the head and communicates with openings 14 formed near the upper tip of the head. The apertures 14 are given a tapered form with the narrow end toward the tip of the head, so that any lumps of fecal matter that start to pass into the upper ends of the openings will not become jammed, but will pass freely through the openings into the passage 13. Likewise the passage 13 is made as large as the size of the head permits and hence the diameter of passage 13 is larger' than the largest Width of the openings 14, so that any lumps that pass through the openings 14 can move freely down the passage 13.

Below the conical shoulder 12 the head earries a small branch tube 15 which has a passage 1G communicating at an upward angle with the passage 13. A flexible Vhose 17 is attaehed to the tube 15 and is adapted to conduct fluid under pressure to the interior of head 10. In the arrangement illustrated the tube 17 is connected to an elevated water bag 18 of conventional type and is controlled by a manual clip. 19. A piece of large size rubber tubing 20 is attached to the lower end 21 of the irrigator head, and serves as a valve and discharge conduit.

In use as an intestinal irrigator the head is placed in position in the rectum as indicated in Fig. 1 with the conical shoulder 12 in sealing engagement with the anus. The tube 20 is then bent back upon itself as shown in Fig. 1 and is held in this position so as to prevent passage of fluid downwardly through the tube 20. Fluid under pressure is then forced into the passage 16 in any preferred manner.v as by permitting it to flow from the elevated reservoir 18 until the desired amount has been injected, at which time the doubled-over end of tube 20 is released, and the apparatus assumes the discharge po sition of Fig. 2. During the discharge the liquid in the colon passes down through the openings 14, passage 13 and tube 20, carrying with it the fecal mat-ter dislodged from the intestinal tract. Due to the large capacity of the passage 13 as compared to the passage 16 it is unnecessary to cut off the inflow during the discharge operation, although the inflow may be stopped if desired.

This irrigator is of special value in hospital cases, since the head 10 makes very little contact with the membrane lining of the intestinal tract, and hence it can be used on a patient every day if necessary. Its use is convenient, since the tube 20 can be of any desired length so as to reach from a bed to a discharge vessel on the floor, in which case the tube 20 would be provided `with any convenient manual control, which might be similar to the clip 19.

vIt will be evident from the above that the device is also capable of utilization as a vaginal irrigator. y

The head can be made of any material having the requisite stillness and possibility of sterilization. In the form shown in Fig. l

. the head may be formed of a suitable metal,

while Fig. 4 shows that the head may be formed of hard rubber and the soft rubber tube may be vulcanized directly to the lower end of head 10.

I claim:

1. An internal irrigator comprising a body having a tapered closed end and having a central passage of substantially the full width of the body, the bodybeing formed near the tapered end with a pair lof ovoid apertures vand inlet an tapered end with a pair of ovoid a ertures opening into the central passage, t e large end of the apertures being farthest from the tapered'end and being of substantially the same width as the central passage, a conical sealing flange formed integral and homogeneous with the body, and inlet and discharge tubes in communication with the central passage below the sealing flange.

3. An internal irrigator comprising a body having a tapered closed end and having a cen tral passage of substantially the full width of the body, the body being formed near the tapered end with a pair of ovoid apertures opening into the central passage, the large end of the apertures being farthest from the tapered end and being of substantially the same width as the central passage, a conical sealing flange formed integral and homogeneous with the body, a short length of collapsible tubingattached tothe lower end of the body and adapted to be doubled upon itself to form a valve, and the head being formed with an inlet passage extending through the side wall of the head below the flange.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY HERTZBERG. 

